Armenia’s Justice Ministry plans to end the practice of relatives sending packages to prisoners in the near future and provide adequate food at penitentiary institutions instead.
Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan announced the initiative during a joint meeting of the National Assembly’s standing committees on state and legal affairs and on financial, credit and budgetary affairs, held as part of discussions on the draft 2027 state budget.
“In the near future, we intend to abandon the practice of prison packages altogether. This is an accepted practice in advanced countries; such packages have traditionally been common only in post-Soviet countries,” she said, adding that the measure is also intended to combat criminal subculture, Sputnik Armenia reports.
Galyan also outlined restrictions already in force at penitentiary institutions aimed at preventing relationships associated with criminal subculture from developing among inmates.
According to the minister, the delivery of large quantities of certain identical goods and food products is currently prohibited. As an example, she cited restrictions on accepting large portions of barbecued meat.
The purpose, she said, is to ensure that each inmate receives packages exclusively for personal use rather than distributing their contents among or sharing them with other inmates.
Such restrictions are intended to prevent behavior associated with criminal subculture.
The justice minister also addressed measures already implemented to ensure security and discipline in penitentiary institutions.
Galyan recalled that video surveillance systems had been installed to strengthen efforts against criminal subculture and improve oversight of order within the facilities.
In addition, measures have been taken to restrict the delivery of various objects into penitentiary institutions using unmanned aerial vehicles.
In particular, protective netting has been installed over the territory of Armavir Penitentiary Institution to prevent prohibited and other objects from being delivered into the facility by drone.
